resources for school leaders to guide the support and use of special education paraprofessionals
TRANSCRIPT
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Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network
Resources for School Leaders to Guide the Support and Use of
Special Education Paraprofessionals
April 1, 2016
NRCP
Jennifer Goldbloom, PaTTAN
PaTTAN’s Mission
The mission of the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance
Network (PaTTAN) is to support the efforts and initiatives of the Bureau of
Special Education, and to build the capacity of local educational agencies to serve students who receive special
education services.
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PDE’s Commitment to Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Our goal for each child is to ensure Individualized Education Program (IEP)
teams begin with the general education setting with the use of Supplementary Aids and Services
before considering a more restrictive environment.
PaTTAN Network
PaTTANPittsburgh
Pittsburgh
King of Prussia
Harrisburg
PaTTAN
Harrisburg
PaTTAN
King of Prussia
EITA
Harrisburg
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Trainings, Meetings, and Videoconferences
Technical Assistance to Schools
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Goal of the Paraprofessional Initiative
The goal of the Paraprofessional initiative is to
provide ongoing in-service training opportunities for
special education paraprofessionals to assist them
in reaching and maintaining qualified status as
required by Pennsylvania regulations as well as
providing information to administrators related to
best practices in supervision and utilization of
paraprofessionals in the field.
What We Know…
Special Education Paraprofessionals
• Are an integral part of the educational team
• Role has shifted from clerical/routine to instructional
• Historically, receive little or no professional development
School Leaders
• Vary in experience related to guiding the work of paraprofessionals
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Special Education Paraprofessionals in PA (2014-15)
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Special Education Paraprofessionals - Ages 3-5 930
Special Education Paraprofessionals - Ages 6-21 21,224
Total 22,154
Let’s Talk About…
• Information for School Leaders
– Laws and Regulations
– Training: Supervising & Supporting Best Practice
– Resources
• Professional Development for Special Education Paraprofessionals
• Publications
• Just a Little Data
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RESOURCES FOR SCHOOL LEADERS
Laws and Regulations
Supervising & Supporting Best Practice
Regulations – Federal
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004
§ 300.156 Personnel qualifications: The State must establish and maintain qualifications to ensure that personnel are appropriately and adequately prepared and trained. The qualifications for paraprofessionals must be consistent with any State recognized requirements.
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Regulations – State
• Chapter § 14.105 (2008) defines two types of special education paraprofessionals
– Instructional
– Personal Care Assistant (PCA)
• Requirements
– Instructional: Meet Qualifications & 20 hours annually of professional development
– PCAs: 20 hours annually of professional development
NCLB and Chapter 14
NCLB Section 1119 (c) Chapter 14.105.a
Each LEA shall ensure that all paraprofessionals hired after 2002 and working in a program supported with Title I funds shall have —
Instructional paraprofessionals shall meet one of the following qualifications effective July 1, 2010:
(A) completed at least 2 years of study at an institution of higher education;
(i) Have completed at least 2 years of postsecondary study.
(B) obtained an associate's (or higher) degree; or
(ii) Possess an associate degree or higher.
(C) met a rigorous standard of quality and can demonstrate, through a formal State or local academic assessment.
(iii) Meet a rigorous standard of quality as demonstrated through a State or local assessment.
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Credential of Competency
One way for paraprofessionals to become qualified in PA
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Paraprofessional Homepage
• On-Demand Training for Administrators
• Interviews with Administrators
• Resources for Administrators
Information for School Leaders
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION PARAPROFESSIONALS
On-Line Sessions
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50079
5289
180856
Total Certificates Earned 2004-2015
On-Demand VC Webinar
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Teachers and Special Education Paraprofessionals: Working as a Team to Support Students
Teacher/Para Training
Training Materials For Your Use
Training materials from many PaTTAN training sessions available for use by IU’s and Districts to train paraprofessionals in-house
– PPT slides
– PPT with notes for trainers
– Activity Packets
Visit www.pattan.net > Educational Initiatives> Paraprofessionals> Materials for Trainers Available for Download
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Additional Resources
• IU Trainings
• National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals (NRCP) www.nrcpara.org
• Conduct a Book Study
PUBLICATIONS
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Administrator Review of Systems and Supports for Paraprofessionals
Teacher’s Desk Reference
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Paraprofessional Portfolio & Student Profile
Special Education Leader
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Data
Surveys
• Paraprofessionals
• Administrators
Question 9: Provide additional comments about the effectiveness and impact of the
online training sessions on your ability to support the education of students with
disabilities.
_______________________________________________________________
• 546 commented
• 304 said: “Online training was very helpful and convenient way of attaining required hours”
• “…like that I can download the transcript, handouts, and slide presentation to view at my own
pace and refer back to if needed.
• “…am glad that online training sessions are available because I am unable to attend after school
trainings.
• “… like to see training programs dedicated to the middle/high school level”
• “….used PaTTAN to help with an elementary student I was called in to work with who had severe
behavior emotional issues and was very helpful”
• “…information about epilepsy or children with seizure disorders would be helpful”
• “…prefer a day of learning new strategies with a group of people”
• “…learned I can sit in the OT’s session with the student…we learned new ways to help the student”
• “…need more online training with motivational techniques for older students”
• “…more information dealing with mainstreaming special ed students”
• “…would like to learn ways to address emotional problems”
• “…found the sessions that were taught within the district to be more effective than the online
training sessions”
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Contact Information www.pattan.net
Jennifer Goldbloom
Commonwealth of PennsylvaniaTom WolfGovernor